Water rationing to begin on Thursday for Tainan: WRA

TAIPEI -- The Water Resources Agency (WRA) said yesterday that it will begin first-stage water rationing in Tainan on Thursday because of low rainfall in the southern city's reservoir catchment areas so far this year.

The water level in the city's Nanhua Reservoir is at 33 million tons at present — the third lowest level since the reservoir was built — as only single-digit rainfall has been recorded in the catchment area so far this year, the TRA said.

Starting Thursday, the water pressure in Tainan will be reduced at night between 11 p.m. and the 5 a.m. in the first phase of water rationing, which is color-coded yellow, the agency said.

The measure is expected to have little impact on the public or industries, WRA Deputy Director Tien Chiao-ling said.

Meanwhile, in Chiayi, another southern area, the water level in Tsengwen Reservoir is below normal but is not at a level that requires water rationing, WRA data shows, color coding the situation "green."

The southern regions of Taiwan have not benefited from the weather fronts this year, Tien said, noting the forecast for the plum rain season in May is not very optimistic for the south.

At this point, it is not known if or when further water rationing will be required in the area, he said.